Bring Camille Saint-Saëns' 'Carnival of the Animals' to life with this FREE popsicle stick theater video from the MakingMusicFun.net Piano Academy. It's one of many online piano lesson resources for kids that we've created to make learning fun.
Carnival of the Animals, a great work of art,
Was written by Saint-Saëns, who was ever so smart.
It’s a collection of pieces, who’s personality is right,
For the animals he chose, be it elegant or bright.
The violins make the sound of the donkeys and hens,
Because the character is true for these barnyard friends.
For the fish in the aquarium that swim all about,
It’s the sound of the viola that plays the melody out.
The cello makes the sound of the elegant swan,
Who glides with great beauty ‘round her glistening pond.
The basses, the biggest string instrument of all,
Plays a tune for elephants that’s like a dance at a ball.
To the score he also added instruments that are struck,
To play with the strings, the ones that you pluck.
He added xylophones that make a hollow, dry sound,
Being perfect for fossils, as they rattle around.
And he added the piano that plays notes by touch,
For the sounds of the mules and kangaroos and such.
Saint-Saëns didn’t forget the woodwinds. No, no, he did not.
As they all make the sounds which he liked a lot.
The clarinet makes the sound of the rooster - as it should,
Along with the cuckoo that lives in the wood.
The sound of the flute gives the birds their flight,
With a tone that is high and exceedingly bright.
Joining in at the end is the bright piccolo,
With the highest of sounds a musician can blow.
Now let’s introduce each animal by name,
And hear the music of such great acclaim.
The king of the jungle is the first to arrive,
He enters with a roar and a most noble stride.
The tortoises are next, traveling slow without care,
That makes one wonder how they beat Aesop’s hare.
The elephant follows who is tremendously strong,
With two tusks and a tail, and a trunk that is long.
The kangaroo arriving next, seems to walk with a pop,
While traveling over fields with a hip, hip, hip, hop.
Now for the goldfish, who ‘round the aquarium swims.
Then up to the top when you sprinkle food in.
Here comes the rabbit with his big fluffy tail,
And ears that seem large, like a seafaring whale.
Can you hear the cuckoo, the darling of spring?
For the light little cuckoo is a marvelous thing!
Now let’s enter the aviary - a large tree-filled space,
With a collection of birds from all over the place.
Pianists are next, who you might think to be human,
That stand on two feet and often quote Truman.
Saint-Saëns, however, being quite a humorous man,
Instead considered them a rather scurvy band.
Here come the fossils, from dinosaurs expired,
That once roamed the earth, but now are retired.
And lastly the swan, so glorious and white,
Who swims on the pond at morning’s first light.
The finale marks the end of this wonderful suite,
That is Camille Saint-Saëns’ most glorious feat.
